After leaving Georgia Tech following back-to-back 1,395-yard seasons as a sophomore and junior, Dwyer saw jumping to the NFL as a no-brainer.

That was particularly true after the pre-draft evaluation process the NFL offers underclassmen rated him as a second- or third-round prospect.

Instead, he wasn't selected until the Steelers grabbed him with the 19th pick in the sixth round, the 188th selection of the draft.

The Steelers, who were looking for a complementary runner to Rashard Mendenhall after losing Willie Parker as a free agent, were happy to scoop up a player who was the ACC Offensive Player of the Year as a sophomore.

"He's a big kid, with deceptive speed and productivity," said Steelers director of football operations Kevin Colbert. "And as a junior you still think he hasn't reached his full potential yet."

A number of things worked against Dwyer.

First was Georgia Tech's triple-option offense that made it difficult for teams to evaluate him as a runner.

Then, he ran the 40-yard dash in just 4.65 seconds at the combine, which wasn't what scouts wanted to see from him despite the fact he's a 5-11, 230-pound runner.

Finally, there was news leading up to the draft that he had tested positive for amphetamines at the NFL combine.

Dwyer couldn't do much about the first two things, but he did have a problem with the third.

"The failed drug test was because of medical prescription," said Dwyer, who has been diagnosed with Attention Deficit Disorder. "It's medicine I've been taking since the fifth grade. Of course, everybody knew that that was going to come up before the combine. All the teams knew about it afterward, just the fact that maybe it wasn't handled the right way in the media aspect. But it's a medicine I still take today, each and every day I wake up, so it's not going to change soon."

For the Steelers, the main concern with Dwyer was him adjusting to an NFL-style offense after playing fullback in the triple-option.

"I think that some of the earlier reports had him going much higher," said running backs coach Kirby Wilson. "But I think as the evaluation period went on, you started to see the things that he needed to work on; that he was not a finished product. When you talk about taking a guy in the first round (or) second round, that guy has to be darned-near a finished product."

The Steelers aren't looking for that from Dwyer, but they would like him to contribute in a manner similar to the runner he replaced at Georgia Tech, Tashard Choice. Choice averaged better than five yards per carry the past two seasons with Dallas in a backup role to Marion Barber.

"This kid has broken a lot of long runs. I think his average was 6.2 (yards per carry) for his career," Colbert said. "There were some signs in there that, in a more conventional offense, this kid should be able to do it. ... We think there is something there that we probably all haven't seen yet. We hope that's the case."

Dwyer certainly feels like he has something to prove to the teams that passed on him again and again.

"All the waiting and everything, not knowing what was going to happen was kind of overwhelming," Dwyer said. "But just knowing that you have an organization that believes in you gives you motivation to go out there and prove all those other people wrong."

I like this guy brings a lot to the table
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T3rmS4fh-z4

steelerdude15

04-26-2010, 11:19 PM

I've heard good things about him, hopefully he can help bring some smash mouth football back to the Burgh.

zulater

04-26-2010, 11:37 PM

Sounds like we got a steal with this kid.:thumbsup:

Wallace108

04-27-2010, 12:04 AM

I didn't know much about Dwyer when the Steelers drafted him, but I've been checking out some videos and I like what I see. I think he has a lot of potential.

devilsdancefloor

04-27-2010, 12:06 AM

he has a pretty wicked stiff arm and for a kid that "doesnt run fast" he looks like he has plenty of football speed to me. he just looks like a foot ball player and that is a good thing.

steeltheone

04-27-2010, 12:18 AM

i like the pick. One of the few. Can he block? As much as we want to be a running team. We are not good enough to do that. Not sure we are good enough to chuck it either, but ya gotta do what ya gotta do.

Merchant

04-27-2010, 08:00 AM

What the? So did they sign Ciron Black or not?? All these sources are saying different things

Texasteel

04-27-2010, 08:11 AM

I don't know much about ADD, but from what I've seen of the kid all Ben has to do is hand him the ball and point in the general direction he wants him to run. I think we got lucky.

HometownGal

04-27-2010, 08:31 AM

I don't know much about this young man either, but from what I've read thus far, every other NFL team's losses who passed on him could be our gain! :thumbsup:

SteelerFanInStl

04-27-2010, 09:29 AM

i like the pick. One of the few. Can he block? As much as we want to be a running team. We are not good enough to do that. Not sure we are good enough to chuck it either, but ya gotta do what ya gotta do.

Why does he need to block? He's a HB not a FB. The only time he needs to block is to pick up the blitz.

This was my favorite pick in the draft because of the value. This kid should really help our running game. He and Mendy should make a very good RB combo.

Fire Haley

04-27-2010, 10:44 AM

What the? So did they sign Ciron Black or not?? All these sources are saying different things

NOPE

LSU football: Offensive lineman Ciron Black still unsigned

By Jim Kleinpeter, The Times Picayune
April 26, 2010, 6:33PM

LSU offensive tackle Ciron Black has not signed a free agent contract with any NFL team, his agent Jimmy Sexton said Monday.

Internet reports, including one on Nola.com, had Black as one of the Pittsburgh Steelers' free agent signings but his name was not on the list the Steelers released on Monday.

Black, who started four years and a school record 53 games for the Tigers, was expected to be one of several LSU players drafted but his name was not called during the three-day draft.

"He has not," Sexton said when reached by phone Monday. Sexton declined to give further information.

i like the pick. One of the few. Can he block? As much as we want to be a running team. We are not good enough to do that. Not sure we are good enough to chuck it either, but ya gotta do what ya gotta do.

you dont think we can run or throw?

Did our whole offense disappear over an offseason? :screwy:

steelerdave1969

04-27-2010, 06:10 PM

This guy is a player folks, I have watched the guy for 3 years at GA Tech and he ran over most everyone he played against. He is a north/south runner that gets the tough yardage and is not bad in the passing game either. The Steelers need to work on the screen passes in my opinion and Dwyer can get the job done. I know that Mendenhall is the main man and Dwyer hasnt played a game yet or even took a snap as a pro, but I look forward to the young man being in a Steelers uniform.

Pi Kapp Steeler

04-27-2010, 09:17 PM

Sounds like he's coming to the Burgh with a pretty big chip on his shoulder.... I like it :tt03:

I love those chip on the shoulder kinda players!

Steelerfreak58

04-27-2010, 09:33 PM

Sounds like we got a great replacement for FW. I hated seeing FW go but business is business.

FSUBoo

04-28-2010, 02:31 AM

I don't know much about ADD, but from what I've seen of the kid all Ben has to do is hand him the ball and point in the general direction he wants him to run. I think we got lucky.

Kinda like the "What do I do?" "Run to him" thing from Little Giants? lol. Sorry if that's dumb or no one remembers it, but that's just what it made me think of.:noidea:

steelreserve

04-28-2010, 03:10 AM

This is about the best I could've hoped for with a sixth-round pick.

Man, what a turnaround from the Parker-only offense. Instead of one RB who can't run for power or speed and can't catch, but everybody thinks he's great ... we end up with a back who can run for power and speed and catch passes, plus a backup who can run OK and catch, plus a rookie who can apparently run right over people. See what happens when we pay attention to the RB spot instead of burying our head in our ass for three or four years?

Galax Steeler

04-28-2010, 04:40 AM

I feel better now knowing we have someone who can fill in if Mendenhall goes down with an injury. I like Moore but at this point in his carrer I don't think he could handle every down duties carrying the ball. I really like the Dwyer pick in the sixth.